I wonder how many comments with “clever quips” about Washington’s lack of a mascot this article will get? Or how the commenter misses the good ol’ days before “cancel culture” and “political correctness” ruined their ability to openly spew racial slurs?
Sorry to start out like that, but nowadays you have to whenever mentioning the Washington Football Team—it’s a preventative measure.
Let’s get onto the game.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the road Sunday afternoon to take on the aforementioned team from Washington, as the GOAT and the Bucs look to get back in the W column after losing to Trevor Siemian and the Saints on Halloween.
TB12 and the squad will likely be without a lot of key guys. As usual, Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Gronk and AB are all going to be on the bench, but Chris Godwin is a newcomer to that list, as he’s listed on the injury report with a foot injury.
Former Bucs wideout Breshad Perriman (pictured) and veteran tight end Darren Fells were both signed to the practice squad in response to the multitude of injuries suffered by the defending Super Bowl champs, and with Perriman having played for Bruce Arians and this Bucs offense in 2019 he could see the field in Sunday’s game if needed.
The former UCF standout last played in an NFL game for the New York Jets in 2020, and bounced around the NFC North this season, signing contracts with the Lions and the Bears. He didn’t record a reception with either team.
Fells is a former Arizona Cardinal and thus has a solid connection with BA. Fells started his professional sports career playing basketball overseas, eventually making his way to the NFL by way of the Seattle Seahawks.
However, despite all of the injuries and the lackluster performance against the Saints, the Bucs shouldn’t have many problems in this Wild Card rematch from last season.
Washington’s offense, led by former XFL backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, has been middle-of-the-road both on the ground and through the air, and when you look at how talented this team is defensively you’d think that’d be enough for Washington to be a pretty solid team.
Unfortunately for both of my fantasy football teams, Washington’s defense is in the bottom 5 in every major statistical category except rushing yards (I mean, it makes the Bucs’ banged up secondary look like the Legion of Boom).
Tom Brady could be throwing to me and you and would probably manage to scrape together a 300-yard, 3 touchdown performance against this abysmal Washington secondary, so regardless of whether AB and Godwin are available, Brady is going to have some fun.
The Bucs should win handily, 35-13. We’ll see if they’re able to fulfill that prediction Sunday afternoon.
Follow @CTBrantley12 on Twitter, and support Carter’s straightforward, unfiltered takes on the best team in professional football and CL’s continued commitment to provide sports coverage free to Tampa Bay. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter.
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2021.